Index-tab.



V. HUNGER 6: G. S. CARTER.

IHDEX'TAB.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

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( 1 i E I? C: 3; m lmmmmum m lmmlmmumml UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VEBBENICE HUNGER AND CHAPEL S. CARTER, OF ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOBS, BY DIRECT AND MESN'E ASSIGNIENTS,TO THE H. C. COOK COMPANY. OF ANSQNIA, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

INDEX-TAB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedApr. 1c, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Vsmmmon MUNGER and CHAPEL S. CARTER, both residents of the city of Ansonia, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Im rovement in Index-Tabs, of which the fol owing is a specification.

This invention relates to index tabs and its object is to provide a device of this character which can be used on card indexes, book indexes and folders for vertical filing systems, also as an indicator, signal or marker on the edges of cards or sheets of paper, or on a plurality of the same and for such other uses as may suggest themselves.

With these objects in view the invention consists of a clip or clamping portion having mounted .thereon a holder for carrying a label, signal,marker or like device.

The essential features of the invention are embodied in the devices set forth in the following description and accompanyingdrawings in which like reference characters refer to corresponding parts.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of the tab in position on the edge of a card; Fig. 2, a rear View; Fi 3, a side view removed from the card; Tig. 4, a transverse section looking upward, taken on line ww in Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a transverse section looking upward, taken on line y-g in Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a front view of a modi cation; Fig. 7, a rear view of the modification shown in Fig. 6 the label being detached; Fig. 8, a longitudinal section taken on line wa: in Fig. 6; Figs. 9 and 10, front and rear view of a further modification; Fig. 11, a si e view of the modification shown in Figs. 9 and 10, and Fig. 12, a longitudinal section taken on line w-m in Fig. 9.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive the tab com rises the clip or clamping portion A, the older 13 and the label C. The clip or clam ing portion A comprises the downward bent front plate a, the back plate I) and tiie tongues c, d, which latter are slit and bent inwardly from the front and back plates a and b respectively but are dis osed longitudinally of the clip and spaced aterally of each other. The ront plate a is bent in such a manner as to form a space or pocket at the top of the clip between the front and back plates 0, and b which space is contracted as it approaches the mouth of the cli where the front and back plates are he (1 together by the resiliency of the metal forming a pair of transversely disposed gripping lips e and f. Formed integrally with the back plate b at the top of the clip are the arms 9, g of the holder B, which arms are formed with downwardly folded upper and upwardly folded lower extensions h, h and i, 11 respectively between which and the arms g, are confined the side edges of the label C, the lower edge ,of which latter rests on the bend forming the top of the clip A. The lip e at the lower extremity of the front plate a. is flared slightly outwardly to more readily receive the edge of the leaf or card D. To attach the tab to the leaf or card D the flaring mouth formed between the lips e and f is placed over the edge of the card and the tab forced downwardly until the ed of the card strikes against the inside 0 the bend at the top of the clip. The tab thus mounted on the card is securely held in place firstly by surface grip between the lips e and f at the mouth of the clip, secondly by the twist between the offset spring tongues c and d intermediate the two ends of the cli as shown in Fig. 4, and thirdly by the wedgin action between the side edges of the frontp ate a and the upwardly folded arms 2' i at the top of the clip as shown in Fi 5. It will appear from Figs. 3, 4 and 5 that these longitudinally disposed adjacent side edges, that is the side ed es of the front plate a and the adjacent si e edges of the legs 2', i are offset from one another so that they lie in different planes, and thereby effect a gri ping or pinching action on the leaf or car 0 when this latter is forced between them. The tab is thus held in lace on the card D by three different sets 0 elements disposed longitudinally within the clip in a manner which prevents lateral or cornerwise displacement but ermits the same to be withdrawn lon itu inally when suflicient pull is exerted. Ty this arrange ment the tab is not liable to be accidentally knocked off the edge of the card a defect common in this class of devices. It will be observed that since the clip and holder are made in one piece that the only assembling operation is the swaging down of the arms h, h and i, i to confine and-protect the side edges of the label.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7 and 8 the cli or clamping portion A is provided with t ree tongues and the holder B permits the label C to be detached and interchanged. In this modification the front and back plates is and Z are tapered toward the mouth of the clip and are provided with two inwardly bent spring tongues m, m slit from the front plate is and an intermediate inwardly bent spring tongue aslit from the back plate 1, which arrangement causes a double twist in the card instead of a single twist of the two tongues in the preceding figures. The carrier B comprises the upwardly projecting rear arms 0, 0 and the upwardly folded front arms 1), p which latter are bent and flared at their upper extremities in a similar manner to the front plate In of the clip portion forming together with the rear arms 0, 0 a pair of spring lips for clasping the side edgesof the label C. These arms 0, o and p, p have their inner side edges cut away so as to expose as much of the label as possible but to preserve a maximum width at their lower extremities thereby giving stren th and stiffness to the bends q, q. The la el C is cut away at its lower edge so that its middle portion 1 rests on the top of the clip A and the side edges 8, s fit into the pockets formed by the bends q, q. The to of the label may be reinforced by a meta edge t. This modification is designed particularly for wide labels which it is desired to interchange. It should be noticed that in. this modification the inside edge of each arm 79 is spaced laterally from the adjacent side edge of the front plate In. Consequently there is no pinching action between these edges. There is a twisting action, however. due to the side edges of the front plate pressin the card downwardly between the edges 0 the arms p, p which gives the card a circuitous path through the tab even though the tongues were not present. It will be observed from Fig. 2 that the tongues act on the card considerably below the top of the clip.

Referring to the modifications shown in Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive the carrier B which is designed for a particular long label is provided with a pair of clips A A which latter are the same as that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 except they are respectively provided with single tongues u, it instead of a pair, which are slit and bent inwardly from the front plates 0., a respectively. The back plates 6, b are connected by the base bar '0 of the carrier B having the upwardly projecting retaining lugs 10, w. The back and front side arms at, a: and y, 3 project upwardly from the outside edges of the back plates 1), b in the same manner as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 except that the folded down top members are made in the form of a single flange 2 extending entirely across to top of the carrier B. The carrier thus constructed .forms a window for holding the label C the side edges of which latter are confined between the back and front arms at), w and y, the top edge in the flange z and the bottom edge behind the lugs or projections '10, 'w as shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

The label, which may be made out of any suitable material such as pa er, celluloid, metal or the like, is printe colored or otherwise finished according to the manner and purpose for which the tab is utilized.

It is obvious that the various forms of clips and carriers above shown may be interchanged in the several styles and that the invention is susceptible to such further modification as may fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now scribed our invention what we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An index tab comprisin a downwardly opening sheet metal spring c ip having front and back plates, and a label holder having front and back sheet metal legs projecting upwardly on each side of the clip, and a label mounted on top of said clip and having its side edges respectively confined between said front and back legs, the said front plate and the said front legs being provided with longitudinally disposed adjacent cooperating edges arranged to pinch a leaf.

2. In an index tab a downwardly opening sheet metal spring clip having front and back plates, the latter being provided with an upwardly projecting spring tongue slit and bent inwardly from the face portion thereof, and a label holder having front and back sheet metal le projecting upwardly on each side of the c ip, the said front plate and front legs being provided with longitudinally disposed adjacent cotiperating edges arranged to pinch a leaf and to cooperate with said tongue to twist said leaf within the clip.

3. An index tab comprising a downwardly opening sheet metal spring clip having front and back plates, and a label holder having front and back sheet metal legs rejecting upwardly on each side of the c ip, and a label mounted on top of said clip and having its side edges respectively confined between said front and back legs, the said front plate and the said front legs bein provided with longitudinally disposed a jatlrenit cooperating edges arranged to twist a ea VERRENICE MUNGER. CHAPEL S. CARTER.

Witnesses:

Anonen Srnzo, VVALTna A. HOLDEN. 

